Canberra has ordered the dependents of Australian diplomats to leave Israel and Lebanon, as regional tensions escalate amid heightened fears of a potential military confrontation between the United States, and Iran. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) issued the directive on Wednesday, extending voluntary departures to family members of officials stationed in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Jordan.
The move follows a warning from DFAT urging Australians to consider leaving Israel and Lebanon while commercial flights remain available. The department cited an “unpredictable” security situation in the Middle East, warning of potential airspace closures and travel disruptions. DFAT continues to advise Australians not to travel to Iran, and those currently in the country are urged to depart “as soon as possible.”
The decision to evacuate families comes after U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a State of the Union address on Tuesday outlining his administration’s concerns regarding Iran’s nuclear program and warning of potential military action. Indirect talks between the United States and Iran resumed earlier this month, coinciding with a build-up of U.S. Military assets in the region, including the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier.
While Australian embassies in Tel Aviv, Beirut, Amman, Doha, and Abu Dhabi, as well as the Dubai Consulate, will remain open, the government’s actions signal a growing concern over the potential for a wider conflict. The deteriorating security situation prompted a similar advisory last year when regional tensions previously flared.
The Australian government has not specified the exact nature of the threat prompting the evacuation, but the timing coincides with increased rhetoric from Washington and Tehran. Iran has reportedly threatened to strike U.S. Interests in the region should its nuclear program be targeted. The prospect of US strikes on Iran has put the region on high alert, according to reports.
DFAT stated that the voluntary departures offered to personnel in Jordan, Qatar and the UAE are in response to the same “deteriorating security situation” as those in Israel and Lebanon. The department continues to advise Australians to exercise a high degree of caution in all destinations within the Middle East.
Geneva is scheduled to host another round of indirect talks between the U.S. And Iran on Thursday, as diplomatic efforts continue to avert a military escalation.
